Clutch operating mechanism



Original Filed Sept. 29, 1931 Patented Apr. 2, 1935 1 [U ITED srArss itQFF-ICEE CLUTCH OPERATING MECHANISM Spiros S. Varkas, New York, N. Y..Original application September 29, 1931, Serial No. 565,835. Dividedand this application October 12, 1933, Serial No. 693,361

4 Claims. (Cl. -192-8 2) This invention relates to a clutch operating;mechanismparticularly adapted. for operating a clutch which is specially;designed for. locking a gear in engagement with .a supporting shaftsuch as has been described in my copending application Serial Number565,835, filed September 29, 1931, relating to a Clutch mechanism tionof a simple and eflicient clutch operating mechanism whichissoconstructed as to facilitate the operation of the clutch, the parts ofthe operating mechanism being simple in construction,v minimum innumber, and economical.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple andefiicient clutch operating mechanism particularly designed for use inconjunction with speed changing devices, the clutch operating mechanismbeing so. constructed as to permit the operator to readily determine thevarious settings of the speed changing mechtrating the clutch controlmechanism in top plan view, one of the gears and shaft supporting meansbeing shown in section;

, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1,certain parts being shown in section;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1; and aFigure 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

By referring tothe drawing, it will be seenthat It! indicates theadjusting rod which adjusting rod is slidably mounted longitudinallythrough the shaft l I, the shaft ll being supported by the casing 12 inwhich the speed gearing is mounted, as shown in Figure 1. A gear 13 ismounted upon the shaft H in any suitable or desired manner, and isprovided with a cut-away portion M for receiving the key l5, which keyis slidably mounted through the opening l6 formed in the shaft l i, thekey being connected to the rod NJ, as shown in Figure 4. Consequently,by shifting the rod 10 longitudinally, it will be seen that the key [5may be moved into and out of clutching engagement with the gear l3 asclearly brought out in --ing arm 32 of the bracket 29.

my co-pending application above identified, from which the presentapplication is a division.

The adjusting rod in supportsat its outer, end a cross head ll havingsleeve-like members .l8

.formed at the .respective ends thereofywhich sleeve-likev members I 8are slidably mounted upon 7 -.the arms or guides l9 between theexpansion A further object of this invention is the producsprings 20mounted uponthe arms or stems l9 and upon either side of the sleeves l8,as shown a clearly in Figure 2. vThe springs 20 act against oppositeends of the sleeves i8 to yieldably resist movement of the cross headand rod l longitudinally of the .rod andguides ineither direction out ofa normal position in which the gear I3 is released from the shaft H.These springs also serve to retain the cross head at right angles to therod l0 and guides 19 and therefore when the cross head is shifted tomovethe rod longitudinally it will beprevented from becoming canted andcausing binding to occur between the guides and sleeves 8. The outerends of these arms or guides is are fitted within the socket members 2|carried by the braces 22, which braces are arranged in inclined relationand extend upwardly at an angle and are secured to the casing or Y framel2, as clearly shown in thev drawing.

For the purpose of facilitating the operation of the adjusting rodlfi,'a1rack 23 forming part of the cross head fits loosely upon the rodbetween stop collars 23' which are firmlysecured in place by set screws,and as clearly shown in Figures 3 and this rack meshes with a gear 24carried by a shaft 25 journaled between the spaced braces 22.

The shaft 25 carries a bevel gear 26 which mesheswith a bevel gear 21.carried by a vertically extending shaft 28 journaled upon the,bracket29, as shown in-Figure 3. .The shaft 28 also carries a bevelgear 298 at its upper end, which bevel gear meshes with a bevel gear 30carried by the shaft 3| journaled upon the vertically extend- This shaft3! constitutes an indicator shaft and a suitable indicating disc 33 issupported in any suitable or desired manner upon the bracket 29 and inany suitable or convenient position for the purpose of permitting theindicating hand 34 to indicate the position of the adjusting rod it. Theindicating hand 34 is carried by the indicator shaft 3| and this hand 34is provided with an operating handle 35. Suitable legends may be placedupon the disc 33, as shown in Figure 2 to indicate the relative positionof the gears which are controlled by means of the adjusting rod It).

Only one gear 13 has been illustrated upon the shaft H and it should beunderstood that any number of gears necessary to accomplish the desiredpurpose may be used, such as is illustrated in my co-pending applicationfrom which the present application is a division, and it is thoughtunnecessary to elaborately illustrate this gear changing mechanism inview of the fact that the present divisional application relates to theclutch operating mechanism particularly described above and illustratedin the drawing.

During operation of this apparatus, the shaft l l and the rod H rotatetogether and unless the gear I3 is keyed to the shaft, it will remainidle. It is understood that a number of gears l3 are carried by theshaft II and a co-operating key I5 is provided for each gear. In orderto cause the gear l3 to turn with the shaft, the rod Ill is slidlongitudinally toward the right in Figure 4, and during such movementthe key I5 will slide forwardly through the slot or opening I6 into thepocket I4 of the gear. Sliding of the rod is effected by grasping thehandle 35 of the pointer or hand 34, and turning this hand to impartrotary motion to the shaft 3|. When this shaft turns,

rotary motion is transmitted through the train of gearing shown inFigure 3 to the shaft 25 and the segmental gear 24 will be turned toimpart movement to the rack 23 forming part of the cross head. Since thecross head fits loosely about the rod It between the collars 23' the rodmay continue to rotate with the shaft, but movement of the cross headwill cause pressure to be exerted upon one of the collars and the rodwill be shifted longitudinally. During this movement the sleeves 18 ofthe cross head slide along the arms or guides I 9 and as the sleeves aredisposed between the springs 20, the springs will serve to yieldablyresist sliding movement of the cross head and retain the cross head atright angles to the guides and rod. Therefore the sleeves cannot becomecanted and cause binding to take place between the sleeves and armsabout which they fit. As the springs engage the sleeves from oppositeends thereof they will tend to normally retain the cross-head and rod ina position in which the gears are free from the shaft II and thereforereturn of the cross head and rod to a vertical position will befacilitated. It should also be noted that as the cross head is retainedat right angles to the rod during shifting of the cross head, this rodwill be prevented from having side strain applied to it and it will notbe liable to become bent or caused to bind in the bore of the shaft.

and out of engaging position, a cross head carried by said adjustingrod, a rack carried by said cross head, supporting members for saidcross head, means for resiliently engaging said cross head and adaptedto urge the cross head and rod in opposite directions and yieldably holdthe rod in its normal position, a segmental gear engaging said rack,means for turning said segmental gear for shifting said rack and movingsaid adjusting rod longitudinally, and bracing means engaging saidsupporting members.

2. A clutch operating device comprising a rod slidable longitudinally, across head carrying a rack supported in engagement with said rod andmovable therewith, guide means for said cross head, a gear engaging saidrack, an indicating "diskha ving legends thereon to indicate positionsof the adjusting rod, a rotary shaft extending through said diskcentrally thereof, an indicating hand extending diametrically of saiddisk and carried by said shaft andconstituting a turning handle for theshaft, means connecting said shaft with said gear for imparting rotationto the gear as the hand, is swung to rotate the shaft and shift theadjusting rod longitudinally, and means for yieldably resistinglongitudinal shifting of the rod and cross head in either direction andpreventing canting of the cross head into position for binding againstitsguide means.

3. A clutch operating device comprising a rod slidablelongitudinal1y,-supporting arms spaced from opposite sides of said rod,a cross head having a rack loose upon said rod and provided withlaterally extending portions carrying sleeves slidably mounted upon saidarms, abutments carried by said rod and engaging opposite ends of saidrack, springs carried by said. arms and engaging opposite ends ofsaidsleeves to yieldably resist movement of the cross head and rod andretain the cross head at right angles to the rod and arms whereby thesleeves. will slide easily along said arms and the rod will be heldagainst lateral strain, braces for said arms, a shaft rotatably carriedby said braces and extending transversely of said rod,'a gear carried bysaidportion engaging said rod to shift the rod longitudinally when thecross head is shifted, means for shifting said cross head, and means foryieldably resisting movement of the cross head along said guides andretaining thecross head at right angles to the rod and guides to preventcanting 'of the cross head and consequent'binding between the guides andportions of the cross head slidably engaged therewith. I

SPIROS S. VARKAS.

